Fresh off the back of a humiliating 7-0 defeat against Benfica in the Taca de Portugal, Estrela Amadora journey to the Estadio de Sao Luis to face SC Farense on Friday.
The Leoes de Faro side head into the midweek clash unbeaten in their last five games against the visiting side since August 2021 and will be looking to extend this dominant three-year streak.
Match preview
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Farense booked their spot in the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal as they picked up a 2-1 victory over Arouca when the two sides squared off at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca last Saturday.
Dario Poveda and Elves Balde scored either side of Alfonso Trezza's 16th-minute equaliser to hand the visitors a first-half lead before they turned in a solid defensive display in the second half to see out the win.
Farense now turn their focus to the Primeira Liga, where they have gone three straight games without a win, losing twice and claiming one draw, and have managed just one win in their last 14 matches, losing 10 and claiming two draws since mid May.
Off the back of a 10th-placed finish last season, Toze Marreco's men have stumbled into the 2024-25 campaign and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the league standings, having picked up just five points from their 11 league matches so far.
Farense's slow start to the campaign has been owing to their struggles at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have scored the fewest number of goals so far (5) — one fewer than any other side in the division.
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Estrela Amadora, on the other hand, were condemned to their biggest defeat of the season last time out when they were thrashed 7-0 by Benfica in their Taca de Portugal fourth-round clash.
Veteran forward Angel Di Maria turned in a clinic at the Estadio da Luz as he netted a hat-trick, including a fifth-minute overhead kick, while setting up one goal to inspire As Aguias to an emphatic victory.
Prior to that, Farense moved out of the bottom three in the Primeira Liga on November 10, when they picked up a 2-0 victory over Nacional at the Estadio Jose Gomes courtesy of late goals from Paulo Moreira and Kikas.
Jose Faria's men have managed just two wins from their 11 league matches this season while losing six and claiming three draws to collect nine points and sit 15th in the table, level on points with 14th-placed Boavista and one point above 16th-placed Arouca.
While Farense will be looking to bounce back from Saturday's humbling against Benfica, results away from home offer little optimism as they have failed to win any of their 15 games on the road since the turn of the year.
Next up is the challenge of an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in any of their last five encounters, losing twice and claiming two draws since a 3-1 victory in August 2021.
Team News
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Farense remain without the services of veteran forward Tomane, who has missed each of the last eight matches since picking up an injury back in September.
He is joined on the club's injury table by 25-year-old midfielder Filipe Soares, who is set to sit out his seventh consecutive game after coming off injured against AVS on September 30.
With his strike against Arouca, Poveda now has a goal contribution in each of his last three games and the former Getafe man will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
Meanwhile, Estrala Amadora remain without first-choice goalkeeper Bruno Brigido, who was forced off injured midway through the game against Nacional on November 10.
Off the back of shipping seven against Benfica, former Porto man Francisco Meixedo should start between the stick, with Danilo Veiga, Ferro, Ruben Lima and skipper Miguel Lopes teaming up at the defensive end of the pitch.
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Africo, Jorge, Moreno; Pastor, Falcao, Menino, Victor; Merghem, Poveda, Balde
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Meixedo; Veiga, Ferro, Lopes, Lima; Bucca, Jesus, Cordeiro, Nilton; Pinho, Cabral
We say: SC Farense 1-1 Estrela Amadora
Off the back of a 7-0 hammering at the hands of Benfica, Estrela will head into Friday's clash looking to retire some pride and push clear of the danger zone. However, we predict Farense will do just enough to force a share of the spoils and extend their unbeaten run against Faria's men to six games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
